Chapter 189: Chapter 1: First
The white clouds surge like a toppled sea, swallowing thirty-six peaks in their wake.
「In the easternmost part of the Eastern Profound Domain, above the Taiyi Cloud Sea.」
Standing atop a mountain peak above the Taiyi Cloud Sea, the view was a boundless ocean of clouds. The sun had yet to rise, but distant rays of dawn already stained the eastern horizon red.
Atop one such peak, several vast, hazy Jade Towers sat as if resting upon the clouds.
Gao Yuerou wore a light blue dress, her entire being exuding an ethereal and gentle aura. Beads of sweat dotted her forehead. Zhang Xiaoyun, in a white robe, had her brows lightly furrowed, a sight that would stir anyone’s pity.
Zhang Xiaoyun gazed at the vast sea of clouds in the distance and asked in a low voice, "Yuerou, when do you think we’ll be able to go back?"
Gao Yuerou looked at that exquisite face and couldn’t help but marvel inwardly. ’I never thought that after the scar on her face was removed, Zhang Xiaoyun would be every bit as beautiful as me.’
Gao Yuerou shook her head, sighed, and said, "I don’t know either. It wouldn’t be a big deal if I left, but they will never let you go. Especially those Elders from the Taiyi Pavilion."
Zhang Xiaoyun’s face paled. She asked anxiously, "Is there really no way?"
"There is," Gao Yuerou said, nodding. "As long as you become strong enough, it will be impossible for them to stop you, even if they try. Or... we could wait for Qingye..."
Hearing Gao Yuerou’s words, Zhang Xiaoyun fell into deep thought for a long time. Then, she nodded heavily and bit her lip. "Mm, I know."
"Xiaoyun, have you taken the Cold Spring Pill I gave you a few days ago? This is a new pill I recently refined, the Nine Extremes Pill. I brought a few for you and Yuerou."
Just then, a figure approached from the distance. It was Huangfu Tian, walking over slowly with a smile playing on his lips.
When Zhang Xiaoyun saw Huangfu Tian approaching, her face grew even paler, and she quickly hid behind Gao Yuerou.
Gao Yuerou’s brows furrowed tightly. Although she was also terrified, she knew she had to stand at the front; otherwise, Zhang Xiaoyun would feel even more helpless.
"What are you doing here?" Gao Yuerou said, putting on a cold expression.
Huangfu Tian looked at Gao Yuerou, shaking his head with a smile. "I came looking for Xiaoyun."
"I... I have something to do," Zhang Xiaoyun said from the side, her voice trembling slightly.
Looking at the frightened Zhang Xiaoyun, Huangfu Tian couldn’t help but say, "I just came to talk. I don’t have any ill intentions."
Gao Yuerou frowned. "That’s not necessary. Xiaoyun and I have things to discuss. If you have no other business, please leave."
"Let’s go, Yuerou," Zhang Xiaoyun said softly, tugging on the corner of Gao Yuerou’s sleeve.
Gao Yuerou nodded, and the two of them walked towards the pavilion.
Watching the two of them leave side by side, Huangfu Tian felt a surge of rage rise in his chest. He struggled to calm himself down.
"Yuerou, thank you," Zhang Xiaoyun whispered, her cheeks flushing slightly now that Huangfu Tian was gone.
Gao Yuerou smiled faintly. "It’s nothing."
A bitter smile touched Gao Yuerou’s heart. ’I’m scared and exhausted too, but I can’t show it in front of Zhang Xiaoyun. It would only make her more afraid.’
Seeing the forced smile on Gao Yuerou’s lips, Zhang Xiaoyun clenched her small fists, a secret hatred for herself beginning to fester in her heart—hatred for her own weakness, for her own cowardice.
Zhang Xiaoyun glanced at the blade hidden in her sleeve. ’Next time, I won’t be like this. I have to escape this cage, I have to leave this place. I’ll do it even if it means spilling someone else’s blood.’ Watching Gao Yuerou’s back, a fierce resolve took root in her heart.
......
「Above the Yao Family grounds.」
Wen Qingye looked at the old man floating in the sky and couldn’t help but frown.
Yao Luojun said slowly, "Since Young Master Wen has already signed the life-and-death contract, let us begin."
Gao Ming’s mouth opened and closed as if he wanted to speak but couldn’t. ’This old man is an expert from the previous generation; how can Wen Qingye possibly be his match?’ Gao Ming’s heart was filled with a sense of crisis and anxiety.
Wen Qingye nodded with a faint smile. "Since I’ve signed the life-and-death contract, I certainly won’t flee from battle."
With that, Wen Qingye pushed off with his feet and flew directly to the roof of the Yao Family Main Tower.
"Wen Qingye is already a dead man," Yao Qi sneered, the corners of his lips curling up.
The Yao Family were all deeply aware of Yao Chijian’s strength.
A fierce wind howled. Wen Qingye’s bangs danced, and the corners of his robes fluttered as he stared at the old man before him. This man was Yao Chijian, one of the most senior members of the Yao Family, whose cultivation was at the Peak of Refining Spirit Fifth Layer.
Yao Chijian looked at the heroic figure of Wen Qingye before him and said in a clear voice, "This old man has heard of your name. With your talent, you are sure to achieve great things in a few years. Why must you fight to the death for the Gao Family now?"
"Some things simply must be done," Wen Qingye said lightly. "To do otherwise would be to go against my heart."
"Go against your heart?" Yao Chijian glanced at Gao Ming, then back at Wen Qingye, and fell silent for a moment. "If I win, I will leave you with an intact corpse."
Hearing Yao Chijian’s words, Yao Luojun’s expression did not change much.
"An intact corpse?" Wen Qingye burst out laughing. "I’m afraid your Patriarch won’t be very happy about that, will he?"
A flash of admiration crossed Yao Chijian’s eyes as he looked at Wen Qingye. "With your talent and extraordinary bearing, you are destined to shine brightly in the future."
"Very well. If I win, I will also leave you with an intact corpse," Wen Qingye said with a nod and a smile.
"Arrogant brat!"
Yao Chijian let out a great shout. With a stomp of his foot, surging Primordial Qi from the air rushed toward him, gathering in his palm. His hand slowly rose, a shimmering purple halo coiling around it.
"Eight Steps Soaring Palm Technique, First Form!"
Yao Chijian abruptly thrust his palm towards Wen Qingye. The violent airflow was split apart by his strike, and the fierce gale sent Wen Qingye’s robes and hair whipping about even more wildly.
In Wen Qingye’s eyes, only that streak of purple brilliance remained, making his Heart Spirit tremble.
Wen Qingye didn’t dare to be careless. His hands began to move in a continuous dance. Instantly, a sinister wind erupted around them. The bone-chilling gale howled, and its marrow-deep cold made everyone present shiver.
Yao Luojun’s brows knitted together as he watched Wen Qingye in the air. ’This Wen Qingye’s strength is truly remarkable.’
Yao Qi was trembling all over, the hatred for Wen Qingye in his heart growing even heavier. ’Wen Qingye absolutely cannot be allowed to live. He must die!’
The sinister wind howled, threatening to devour one’s Heart Spirit.
"Undying Seal Technique, First Form! The Sinister Wind Comes to Claim Your Life for Burial!"
A black and white stream of qi churned between Wen Qingye’s palms as a series of strange seals condensed in his hands. Finally, Wen Qingye blasted the resulting Seal Technique toward Yao Chijian.
BOOM!
The purple brilliance and the Seal Technique collided in mid-air. A violent torrent of qi resounded over the entire Yao Family estate. The experts throughout Kaiyang City were all stunned. They shot out from where they were, rushing towards the Yao Family’s location.
"Are those two experts clashing? What powerful qi flow!"
"The Yao Family! It’s coming from the direction of the Yao Family!"
"So strong! Both of their cultivation levels must be at least Refining Spirit Fourth Layer or higher."
"Let’s go take a look! I wonder which two experts are fighting."
